Motor propelled surfing apparatus or aquaplane



Jan. 10, 1933. JOHNSON 1,893,994

MOTOR PROPELLED SURFING APPARATUS OR AQUAPLANE Filed March 25. 1932 Patented Jan. 10, 1933 UNETED STATES CHARLES OCEAN JOHNSON, OF BRITTATOE'P, SWEDEN MOTOR PROPELL-ELD SURFING APPARATUS OR AQUAPLANE Application filed March 23, 1932. Serial No. 600,745.

The Patent No. 1,712,620 relates to a motor propelled aquaplane or surf board, consisting of a water tight floating body with a practically plane deck and a bottom, which is formed in such a way, that it shows in the vertical central section a hollow arrangement or channel, in which the propeller and its shaft are mounted, whereby on both sides thereof V-formed keels are placed in order to give a good carrying capacity and easy steering of the surf board or aquaplane.

This invention aims at an improvement of the above mentioned surf board or aquaplane, inasmuch as it now is arranged with a Wider carrying surface in the bottom, and is V- formed only in the neighborhood of the propeller to such an extent that an easier steering of the surfing apparatus is possible. Through the arrangement according to this invention it is only necessary to lean the plane to the one side or the other in order to get a deviation of the course to starboard or backboard.

The invention is illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows the surfing arrangement viewed from the side and partly in section; Fig. 2 shows the same from above with the deck partly taken away, so that it is possible to view the inside of the surfing arrangement; Fig. 3 shows the surfing plane viewed towards the stern.

The surfing plane is meant to be driven forward in the water by means of a motor a driving a propeller, which is engageable and disengageable by means of a clutch 9. The motor gets its fuel from a gasoline tank 1, which is suitably placed in the bow of the surfing apparatus, and by means of piping the fuel is carried to the carburetor of the motor. 2 denotes the air intake of the motor and 5 denotes the silencer, 6 denotes the exhaust pipes, which suitably have their outlets sideways on both sides of the surfing arrangement. As soon as the motor is started, the pumps for the cooling water 7 begin to operate, so that the temperature of the motor does not exceed the allowable limits. Atthe start of the motor a hand starting arrangement can be used or also an electric starter the surfing arrangement, afbilge pump 3 can be put in action by manual means, so that the water entering the hull canbe pumped out again.

Further in this new surfing board or aquaplane arrangements are made, by the means of which the disengagement of the connection between themotor and the propeller 14 can be actuated either by the foot or by hand, as the bather desires while he is in an upright position on the surfing board with his foot holding the pedal 12 pressed down, or if he is lying down on the surfing board, he can keep the said pedal 12 pressed down with his elbow or arm. As soon as the bather releases the pedal 12 with his foot or arm, a spring releases the motor clutch 9 and at the same time chokes the gas, so that the motor continues running on no load and the board stops close to the bather who is supposed to have r fallen over board into the water.

In the neighborhood of the stern a rest or lee-fang is arranged extending practically across the whole breadth of the beam, which rest preferably is of comparatively large diameter, so that it can be a steady handle for the bather to hold on to while speeding ahead. In the neighborhood of the right hand end of the same a spring controlled speed regulating lever 11 is mounted, with the aid of which the regulating valve of the motor carburetor can 8 be operated, so that the speed of the craft can be regulated by this lever. The connection between the motor and the propeller shaft can also be operated by hand by means of a handle 12 at the left hand end of said rest or leehas been described and illustrated herein, it

is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what too pimped 5 I claim and desire secured by Letters Patent 1s A motor propelled surfing apparatus or aquaplane comprising a Wholly water-tight hull, having a flat upper surface at its stern to form a surf-board portion of SllffiClGIlt area to permit a bather to stand erect or lie thereon, and a channel beneath said surfboard portion, a motor in said water-tight hull, a propeller driven by said motor in said channel beneath the surf-board, a spring released clutch mechanism in the hull connecting the motor and propeller and also a carburetor choke, a control pedal on the outside of the hull on its upper surface, and to one side of the surf-board for actuating the clutch against the tension of the spring of the clutch, and accessible to the bathers foot or arm when standing or reclining, respectively, whereby the driving mechanism is automatically released and simultaneously the speed of the motor is decreased when the control pedal is released from pressure by the bather, and a steady-rest handle extending transversely across the front portion of said surfboard portion.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

CHARLES OCEAN JOHNSON. 

